All stray dogs are kept at kennels for 7 days, following the 7
days they would be put up for re-homing and the original owner's
claim to the dog is likely to come to an end.

If your dog has gone missing you should contact Northumberland
County Council on (0845) 6006400 or view
local numbers here who will contact the Dog Warden on your
behalf.

If you find a stray dog, you are required by law to return it to
the owner or to contact the Council on (0845) 6006400 or view local numbers here who will make
arrangements to collect it. If the dog is injured it should be
taken to the nearest vets as soon as possible.

Any dog found in a public place and not being in the control of
the owner is considered to be a stray. Stray dogs can cause many
problems so don't let your dog roam alone, and all dogs must by law
wear a collar and identity tag in a public place.

To reclaim a dog the owner will be required to pay a release
fee, the cost of kennelling the dog and any outstanding costs e.g.
vets fees. The owners of dogs with some form of identification will
be notified as soon as is practicable.

In the first instance the dog should be returned to its
owner. If the owner is not known or cannot be identified from the
dog's collar and tag, one of the following procedures should be
followed:

1. You need to contact Northumberland County Council
Customer Services on 0845 600 6400. A dog warden will then arrange
with you to come and collect the dog.

2. NewcastleDog & Cat Shelter,
Benton Lane, Newcastle Upon Tyne. NE12 8EH, (0191 2150435)
accept dogs found by members of the public in the Northumberland
Area between 8:00 – 16:00hrs Monday - Friday

Stray dogs found outside normal working hours:

Under Section 68 of the Clean Neighbourhood and Environment Act
2005, the Police will no longer be involved in seizing stray dogs
and do not have a duty to accept strays if taken to a Police
Station.

Any dog found in a public place and not being in the control of
the owner is considered to be a stray. Stray dogs can cause many
problems so don't let your dog roam alone, and all dogs must by law
wear a collar and identity tag in a public place.

To reclaim a dog the owner will be required to pay a release
fee, the cost of kennelling the dog and any outstanding costs e.g.
vets fees. The owners of dogs with some form of identification will
be notified as soon as is practicable.

In the first instance the dog should be returned to its
owner. If the owner is not known or cannot be identified from the
dog's collar and tag, one of the following procedures should be
followed:

You can keep the dog until the next working day and then as
above, contact the Dog Warden section and arrange for the dog to be
collected.

Contact Northumberland CountyCouncil Customer Services on 0845
600 6400 and they will arrange for the dog to be collected by the
out of hours service. The dog must be detained.

Stray dogs can also be taken to Newcastle Dog & Cat
Shelter, Benton Lane, Newcastle Upon Tyne. NE12 8EH. (0191
2150435). This service is available 8:00 – 16:00 Saturday &
Sunday

Collar and Identity Tags

Under the Control
of Dogs Order 1992, all dogs must wear a collar and identity
tag in a public place. The tag must show the owner’s name and
address. Our dog wardens enforce this law and fines of up to £5000
can be given by the Courts for an offence.

Without identification, you are making it less likely that you
will get your dog back if it strays.

Always make sure that your dog wears a collar and tag,
even if microchipped.

Northumberland Voluntary Dog Registration Scheme

Update: Unfortunately Northumberland County
Council can no longer provide dog tags under the above scheme. For
owners who have previously registered their dogs with this scheme,
Animal Welfare will still continue to return any lost dogs and
update owner details on database when requested to do so.

Working in partnership with the Dogs Trust, Northumberland
County Council Animal Welfare team is currently proving free dog
micro-chipping for anyone who lives in Northumberland. From 6th
April 2016 it will be compulsory for all dogs in England to be
micro-chipped whether they have a tag or not.

Dog Microchipping

Northumberland County Council now provides a dog microchipping
service.

This is available to dogs from a week after their second
injection (13- 14 weeks old).

We now have a limited amount of free Microchips.

Please contact NCC on 0845 600 6400 to arrange
for your dog to be microchipped free of charge.

An Animal Welfare Officer will then contact you to make an
appointment that is convenient for you both.

Northumberland County Council also plans to hold microchipping
events throughout Northumberland when you would be able to bring
your dog along on the day to be chipped.

Barking dogs - noise

If a complaint is made to a Council, they have a duty to
investigate it.

The Council may serve a Noise Abatement Notice and if the
barking continues then they may prosecute under the Environmental
Protection Act 1990. The likely penalty is a fine.

Barking comes naturally to dogs, but the constant barking or
whining of a dog can be disturbing or annoying for the neighbours.
Often the problem occurs when the dog’s owner is out of the house
and so the owner doesn’t know until someone complains.

In law, a barking dog can be a noise nuisance. The owner can be
taken to court if he does nothing to stop the nuisance.

How to report a problem with barking dogs

Whilst dogs are allowed to bark, they are not allowed to bark so
that it causes a nuisance.

It is a matter of fact and degree in each case and factors that
may be taken into account include:

the volume

duration of the barking

the time of day it happens.

Why dogs bark?

Dogs are not by nature solitary animals. They need the security
of a family group. Pet dogs regard their owners as a substitute
family and can soon become distressed when left alone.

There are many reasons why your dog may bark:

Loneliness

Boredom or frustration

Attention seeking

Defending his territory

Medical problems

The importance of training

Training is important so that your dog does not bark at just
anything that moves. A well-trained dog should be able to tell
between people allowed into the house and people who are intruders.
Good training combined with affection and companion should mean
that your dog will not develop bad habits. Start young and start as
you mean to go on.

Some simple things to try

Some dogs just don’t want you to go out. Get your dog used to
the idea that you are away for different periods of time at
different times of the day. That way he might not be so concerned
each time you leave. And don’t make a fuss of your dog when you
leave him.

Try putting your dog on his own in another room at first for a
few minutes, then gradually build up the time you leave your dog
alone. Do not return to your dog until he is quiet for a period.
When you return, praise him.

Some dogs will bark because they want to join in what’s going on
outside. If this is the problem, try leaving your dog so that he
cannot see outside.

Some dogs will settle only if they can hear a human voice.
Leaving the radio on at low volume might help. But make sure the
radio is not too loud. You don’t want to have complaints about
that!

Try not to leave your dog for long periods. If you have to, see
if there is someone who can look in during that time. Maybe that
person could take your dog for a walk or let him out into the
garden, if you have one.

If you have to leave your dog for long periods

Feed and exercise him before you go out and leave him some
fresh water

Make sure his bed or basket is comfortable and leave him his
favourite toys

Check that the room is not hot or too cold and that there is
adequate ventilation

And if you aren’t coming back until after dark, leave a light
on

Some other points

If you do keep your dog outside, think carefully about where you
put his kennel and where he can run. Try not to put it near your
neighbour’s fence or where your dog will be tempted to bark.

Don’t blame the dog and think that you will solve everything by
replacing him with another. It probably will not, unless you change
your lifestyle at the same time.

Getting a second dog for company might help. But think about
this carefully. Do you have the space and can you afford a second
dog? Another dog could result in more not less problems.

You should also go to your vet. Sometimes a dog will bark
because he is ill – anxiety is often the cause of barking. You can
ask your vet to refer your dog to an animal behaviourist who is an
expert and can suggest ways to improve your dog’s behaviour.

Dog Fouling

Northumberland County Council only has powers to deal with dog
fouling in the county. Dog fouling is a problem that occurs on
footpaths, school playing fields, sports fields, parks and other
public places when owners do not clear up after their dogs. The
excrement can cover shoes, clothing and can even lead to blindness
due to an infection called 'Toxocara canis'. Council's can now
identify areas of land in which it is an offence not to clear up
after your dog under:-